Locking device for elevators.



E. G. WATKINS. LOCKING DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- sp, 1914.

1,191,251. Patented Jul 18, 1916.

3/5 'l nllenfov R3117 Fdwaz-oylfiifil'im FMQM fulfils the most rigid statutory requirements I EDWARD Gr. WATKINS, OF GABDNER, MASSACHUSETTS.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July is, 1916.

Application filed September 30, 1914. Serial No. 864,352.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD G. WATKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gardner, in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Locking Devices for Elevators, of which the following, together with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

The present invention relates to-locking devices for elevators, and the same is particularly applicable to the ordinary types of elevators in which a shipper-rope or cable is provided to control the elevator actuating mechanism. The laws of most States require the provision of a locking device for each such elevator, in order to prevent the operation of the same by unauthorized persons at such times when the operator leaves the'car. The present invention aims to provide such a device, which and, at the same time, is easily and cheaply manufactured, and is capable of application to any and all elevators of this class.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a sectional view of so much of the operating mechanism of an elevator tlSflSIlQCGSSZLI'Y for a clear understanding of my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the improved locking device in its operative position, and Fig. 3 is a front view of the device, in inoperative position.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures.

I have illustrated my invention in its application to a hydraulic elevator, but it will be apparent from the following that such illustration is merely by way of example, and that the invention is equally capable of application to other types of elevators, such as electric or belt driven elevators.

Referring to Fig. l, the elevator or car 1 is disposed for movement within a shaft or well 2, at the bottom of which is located a valve device 3 of the ordinary type, for the control of the actuating mechanism of the elevator, not shown. The details of construction of said valve device and said actuating mechanism are well known to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, and therefore no description of the same is deemed necessary.

For the purpose of operating the valve, the usual endless shipper-rope or cable 4.-

is provided, the same being carried on pulleys 5, 5 at the top and bottom of the shaft 2 and, in the present instance, passing freely through apertures 6, 6 in the top and bottom of the car 1, in the usual manner. The cable 4 is connected to the valve 3 by any suitable means, such as the pivoted armi7. The exertion of a downward pull on saidcable effects the lifting of said valve and, in the manner common to devices of this class, causes the car either to start upwardly, or if moving downwardly, to come to a stop. Similarly, the movement of said valve in the opposite direction by said cable, causes the car either to start downfwardly, or if moving upwardly, to come to a stop. It is to be understood that the shipper-rope 1 need not pass through the body of the car; the disposition of said rope, whether it be outside or inside the shaft 2, is immaterial to the application of my invention thereto. It is usual to provide a knob or handle on the shipper-rope of such elevators, to enable the operator to obtain a firm grip thereon, in the act of stopping or starting the car. The present invention contemplates, adjacenteach floor, two such knobs 8, 8, with a short section 9 of rope between them. When the rope is located as shown in Fig. 1, the knobs 8, 8 pass freely through the apertures 6, 6 as the car moves up and down. My improved locking device takes the form of a bracket 11, having a horizontal extension 12. In Fig. 1 I have shown a-single such device secured to and within the car 1, the extension 12 of said device being substantially at the same distance above the floor of the car as the several intermediate rope sections 9 are above ing and secured to the wall of the well 2 at substantially the same distance above the floor as are the respective sections 9 of said shipper-rope 4:. The dotted line position of the rope 4: and knobs 8, 8, Fig. 2, shows the normal position of such rope with respect to the locking device, irrespective of whether the latter is carried by the car, or is supported from the walls of the shaft 2.

The horizontal extension 12 of each looking device has a slot 13 extending inwardly from its outer face or edge, said edge having pivoted thereon, near one corner, an arm 14. Said arm has a notch 15, which receives the shank of a pin or screw 16 when the arm is swung into horizontal position to close the end of slot 13. Flush with its outer face or edge the extension 12 has a laterally extending lug 17 the under side of which is substantially coextensive with the free end of arm 14 in the horizontal position of the latter. Said free end of arm 14 has an. aperture 18 adapted to receive the hasp 19 of a suitable lock 20, for the purpose of locking the car against unauthorized operation, as hereinafter described.

When the operator desires to leave the car during his absence therefrom on any of the floors or landings of the building, he simply draws the section 9 of the cable into the slot 13, the cable being slack enough to permit the slight deflection required in moving from the dotted to the full line position, Fig. 2. The arm 14 is then swung downwardly onto the pin or screw 16 and, thereafter, if desired, the insertion of any suitable member, such as a pin, or the hasp of lock 20, within the aperture 18, serves to maintain the arm 14 in horizontal position, by reason of the contact of said pin or hasp with the under face of lug 17. The section 9 is thus securely retained within the slot 13. The enlargements 8, 8 cannot pass through the slot, hence the movement of the rope in either direction to start the car is eflectually precluded. As a further safeguard, the lock may, if desired, be operated, to prevent the removal of the hasp by any person not provided with the proper key. Furthermore, in case of accidental starting of the car, from any operation not concerned with the movement of the rope 4, the contact of the extension 12, when the locking device is carried by the car, with either of the enlargements 8, 8 operates the valve device 3 to bring the car to a stop, as will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that the insertion of a pin, or of the hasp 19 of the look, within the aperture 18 is not necessary to prevent when the same is held. in deflected position as shown in Fig. 2. The movement of the lower enlargement 8 against the arm 14 is accompanied by contact of said enlargement with the under side of extension 12, so that the upward swinging of said arm to release the rope is effectually prevented.

I claim,

1. A locking device for elevators including a member having a slot adapted to re ceive a sectionof the shipper-rope when the latter is deflected from its normal path, an arm pivoted on said member and movable into position to close said slot and retain the shipper-rope therein, said arm having an opening to receive a member adapted to limit its movement in one direction, and means for preventing the movement of the arm in the other direction.

2. A locking device for elevators, including a member having a slot adapted to receive a section of the shipper-rope when the latter is deflected from its normal path, a second member pivoted on said first member and movable into position to close said slot and retain the shipperrope therein, one of said members having an opening to receive a locking device adapted to limit the movc ment of said second member in one direction, and means for limitingthe movement of said second member in the other direction.

3. A locking device for elevators, including a member having a slot adapted to receive a section of the shipper-rope when the latter is deflected from its normal path, a pivoted closure for said slot adapted to be moved into operative position to retain said rope therein, said rope having obstructions thereon adapted to limit its movement through said slot while thus retained therein, and means, comprising a stop carried by said member in the path of said closure, and a projection adapted to cooperate with a removable piece, for preventing the movement of said closure by said obstructions.

EDWARD G. WATKINS.

Witnesses PENELOPE COMBERBAOH, NELLIE WHALEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0. 

